The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2009 Samoa tsunami, the 2010 Chile tsunami, the 2011Tohoku, Japan tsunami, in less than 10 years, these four events focused the world’s attention on the extremely violent threat of tsunamis. Major tsunamis do not happen often, but when they do, they can have a significant impact on life and property. Even small tsunamis, which are more frequent, can cause loss of life, injuries and considerable damage.

In the United States, the threat posed by tsunamis is greatest along the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts, but tsunamis are also possible on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. In 2001, recognizing these threats and the vital role played by coastal communities in protecting the nation from tsunamis, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP—a partnership led by NOAA that today includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and 28 U.S. states and territories) established the TsunamiReady program to promote community tsunami preparedness. Modeled on the NWS’s successful StormReady® program, TsunamiReady helps communities* minimize the risk posed by tsunamis through better risk assessment, planning, education and warning communications.

TsunamiReady is a voluntary community recognitionprogram that promotes tsunami hazard preparedness as an active collaboration among federal, state/territorial and local emergency management agencies, community leaders and the public. The main goal of the program is to improve public safety before, during and after tsunami emergencies. It aims to do this by establishing criteria for a standard level of capability to prepare for and respond to tsunamis (guidelines) and working with communities to help them meet the criteria and ultimately become recognized as TsunamiReady by the NWS.

Although tsunamis cannot be prevented, becoming TsunamiReady can help communities minimize their losses. Other incentives to becoming TsunamiReady include:

• Access to technical support from the NWS and NTHMP partners;
• Eligibility for credit points from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System, which provides discounts on flood insurance in participating communities;
• Justification for costs associated with tsunami preparedness;
• Improved positioning to receive state/territorial and federal financial support and
• Improved preparedness for other hazards.

To learn more about what is involved in becoming TsunamiReady, visit How to Become TsunamiReady or contact your local NWS Weather Forecast Office.

* For the purposes of the TsunamiReady program, “community” is defined as a local government entity, an Indian tribal government, or a facility that has the authority and ability to implement the TsunamiReady Guidelines.

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